Expansible band or bracelet



C. H. KESTENMAN ,EXPANSIBLE BAND 0R BRACELET Filed May 23, 1927 Patented Nov. 27,1928.

CHARLES H. K'STENMA'N, 'OF PBOIICIIL'EQNC, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 PATENT OFFICE.

-MAN BROS. MTG. "'OF PROVIDENCE, Vlall'rIOvDl?. ISLAND, ACORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

' 4nXrANsrnLr: BAND on BRACELET..

A Application Aflied may 23', 1927. serial No. 193,530.

This invention relates to improvements'in expansible metal bands, chains or linkages .for use as articles of jewelry, such as bracelets,necklaces, girdlesand the like.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved article o'fmanufacture of 'the `type specified lcomprisingV articulated .links or chain-elements which are adapted .to flex, one in relation to another, and 'toslide longitudinally relatively to each other to allow vexpansion in the length of the bracelet or other article.l y

Another object of the invention is to provide an eXpansible bland, chain or linkage in which the individual links may bef\eas'ily disconnected and detached toshorten the bracelet orother article andfto vpermit the iinsertion lof additional links to lengthen it.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 2" vide an article of the type specified in which the links may be constructed `from sheetmetal blanks struck up in dies and assembled vin interconnected relation without the use of pivots, rivets orsoldered joints.

Another object of the inventionV is to .pro-

vide an article of the type specified which is more economical yto manufacture,` of .stronger construction and proof against breakage or damage in use.

Further objects of `the improvement are set forth in the following specification .which describes a preferredembodiment of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: A

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating the general appearance of the band or linkage as adapted for use as a watch-bracelet and showing it with its links in contracted and ilexed relation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view showing several ofthe connected links and illustrating a portion thereof in sectionito disclose the resilient expansion-means enclosed therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of several of the links with two of them shown in section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and with one end link shown with its clasp or hook opened;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Va pair of outer and inner links showing'the re- 7 lation between the slide link and the outer link and the means for holding the latch member of the inner link in place;

two parts of the outer or main link before vouter link-members 2 of the boxtype assembled with .inner connecting-links or slides 3 which lare telescoped within 4the main links and held in Acontracted relation by resilient B5 means, such as the springs 4, to adapt them toV be extended lto Iprovide for the expansion of the band or chain as a whole. The main'links 2, shown in inverted `position in Figs.'2,` 3 and 5, comprise relatively 'flat top-plates y6 with sides 7 bent downwardly therefrom and olded inwardly toprovide the right-'angled 'bottom-strips or longitudinal vflanges 8.

In the .present invention the outer or main link .2 is of substantially .the same construction as that shown in my prior .application for United States Lettels'Pa'tent Serial No, y 160,235, filed `January 10, 1927. Assembled with each outer or mainlink 2 is a rectangular frame l0, shownin detail in Fig. 5, and

securing it in placein themain link forms one of the features of the present improvementi The iframe l0 maybe kconstructed from a .re1- ativelynarrow strip of sheet-metal bent into' rectangular shape to form parallel sides .11 adapted 'to be enclosed within .the sides 7 of the fmain link v2 Vwith the lbottom-.flanges 8 thereof. overlapping their edges. The two `of construction provides a particular-Ly strong andrigid y-frameandadapts the whole element to be manufactured as astampmg 10o .bent up from a continuous strip with all of its parts integral.

Projecting from the edges of theV sides 11` of the frame 10 are suitable lugs 16 which` provide means for securingthe frame 10 in 105 place within the vsides of the main links 2.

the method of constructing this element and i For this purpose the botom-flanges 8 on the main links 2 arepunched with apertures 17 l within which the projections or lugs 16 are Vreceived when the flanges are bent across the edges of the sides of the framel 10. n this way the flanges' 8 hold the frame 10 in place laterally of the main links 2 while the lugs I 16 lock in the apertures 17 to secure the frame from longitudinal displacement.

The inner slide link 3 is constructed inr two parts of substantially the same form as disclosed in my co-pending application for i j. ,UnitedVV States Letters Patent Serial No. 125,233, filed July 27, 1926. As shown in detailv in Fig. 6, the main portion ofthe slide link 3gconsists of. a flat topsplate 18 which is bent or curled around at one end to form a hook 19 terminatingin a beak 21. The proj ectin'g beak 21 is slightly narrower than the main portion ofthe top-plate 18, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. The opposite end of the top-plate 18 is bent or folded at right-angles to form a cross-strip or flange 22. The cross-strip 22 is cut away or reduced in width at its ends to form shouldered ledges 27 for a purpose as later explained.

The other cooperating Vpart of the slide 1ink-3 consists of a plate-like tongue or latch 23 bent over at one end to form a right-angled strip or flange 24. The flange 24 is adapted Y to abut the side of the end-strip or flange 22 i to 'adapt them to engage in under the bottomflangesY 8 of the main link 2'when the inner j on the top-plate 18 with the opposite free end of the latch 2 3v held against the edge of the beak 21 of the hook 19.V It will be noted that the ends ofthe flange 24 project beyond the sides of the latch or tongue 23 to vprovide ears 25 conforming to the narrowed end pore tions 27 of the flange 22 on the top-plate 18, these parts being of suitable width to adapt them; to slide freely in the space between Vthe top-plate 6 and the botom-'flanges 8 of the main or other link 2.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 6, it is also to be observed that the tongue or latch 23 is formed withears 26V projecting from its lateral edges adjacent the ears 25. The ears 26 are crimped or bent downwardly slide link i3' is assembled with the outeror main link, this inter-engagement being illus# trated most clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The ears 26 hold the latch 23 in alinement with the edge of the beak v21 on the hook 19 formed by the sections 13 and 14 ofthe frame 10. The spring 4 thus acts to hold the slide link 3 telescoped within the main link 2 in the manner illustrated bythe showing of the center link of the series in Figs. 2vand 3.

VThe bracelet,chain or'other articula-ted article is produced by assembling the several elements above described in the manner as nextV explained :The parts of the slide link 3 are `first assembled with the frame 10V and spring 4. The'frame lOis. placed in position with its cross-bar 13, 14 laid across the topplate 18 of the slide link in under the beak 21 of the hook 19. The spring 4 is then placed in position with one end bearing' against the cross-bar 13, 14 and the latch 23 set in position with its end-strip or flange 24 abutting the side ofthe end-strip 22 and with the spring 4 holding it in this relation. "v j The several parts of the slide link 3 assembled with the'fraine 10 in the'manner as above explained are now assembled with the outer or main link 2 by sliding them into place between the sides 7 thereof. v It is togbe noted that the bottom-flanges 8 on the main'link 2 are not initiallyb'ent over at right-angles to the sides 7 but left upst-anding at an angle of substantially forty-live degreesthereto. After the Aslide link 3 has been slid intojposition within the main link 2 with the sidesll of the vframe 16 abutting the sides 7 on the outer'link the yiiz'tnges 8v are bent over and their apertures 17 engaged with the lugs 16 to hold the frame 10 longitudinally with respect Vto the outer link 2. Thenthe-bottom-fianges 8 are bent over into the position illustrated in Figs. 3,4 and 5 they will bear against the ledges 27 at the lends ofthe end-strip 22 onthe inner Vlink3 and also against the edges of the ears 25cn the latch 23 to "hold these parts from displacement laterally of the link 2. l TheVbottom-flanges 8 will also overlap the ears 26 Von the latch or tongue'23 to maintain this latter part in posi tion extending between the edges 'ofv the flanges 8 and flush therewith as regards Vthe flat bottom surface of the assembled links.

After .the pairs of outer and inner links 'have been assembled in the manner as above explained they are joined together in a chain or linkage by engaging the hooks 19 on Vthe inner slidel links 3 with the crossbars or bails 12 at the ends Vof adjacent outer links 2. The links are coupledl'together by drawingthe slide links 3 outwardly as shown at the right in Figs. 2 and 3 against the tension of the springs 4. Then the inner slide link 3 is ex- Vtended in this manner the compression of the spring 4 willpermit the tongue or latch 23'to be cant/ed or rocked away from the beak 21 of the hook 19, as shown at the right in Fig. 3, so that the bar 12 may be hooked thereinto. A plurality of links may thus be assembled in series to form any desired length of chain, or to provide a bracelet, necklace, girdle or other article of jewelry, and any certain links became may be detached to shorten its length-'or'other links added to extend it.

When the links are assembled `to orm'fa watch-.bracelet two `sections ofrlin'ksfare employed with a narrower connecting link 27 joining the sections togetheras showninF ig. 1. The oppositeends-:of-theitwo sections are usually provided with clasps 28 which may be of substantially the same construction as the main links, with suitable means at their ends for connecting them to the bails on the sides of a wrist-watch.

It has been noted that the present invention embodies a construction of the main link 2 substantially the same-as that disclosed in my lprior application for patent Serial No. 160,235, previously referred to, but it is to be observed that in the improvement herein described the frame 10 is made in one piece.

Furthermore, through the present improved construction the frame 10 is made stronger and more rigidi and-its method of connection with the main link 2 also renders the complete article more durable and serviceable in use.

As a further feature of improvement the slide link 3 has its tongue or latch 23 provided with the laterally projecting ears 26 which cngage under the bottom-flanges 8 on the main link 2 to prevent the latch from mo ving out of place with respect to the main part 18 of the slide link. This construction also provides for holding the latch 23 in alinement with the beak 21 of the hook 19 instead of engaging it under the endlY of the beak, thus providing a flat unbroken surface on the under side of the links. Another advantage of the present im- Y provenient is that the parts of the chain may be assembled more conveniently and expeditiously. Also, in operation the latch or tongue 23 'for the hook 19 is moved as a whole in opening the hook to engage it with or disengage it from-the bail Von the next link in the series so that the latch does not have to be bent orsprungout of position for this purpose. This is an improvement over previously used constructions because frequent bending of the latch is liable to weaken or break this essential pait, or to cause it to assume an open position where it will not guard the hook.

The present improvement provides a structure which is particularly adapted for economical manufacture, the parts of the device being all formed from sheet-metal so that they may be stamped out and struck up in dies. The several parts of the chain or linkage are assembled in cooperative relation without the use of pivots, rivets, or soldered joints and in this way greater economy in the cost of manufacture is realized with less liability of derangement or getting out of order.

Having now described the structure and arrangement of the complete device in detail, what I claim as an improvement is l. An improved construction of link for expansible bank, chains or linkages'comprising an outer member having `a topf-pore tion with sides ibent at right-angles theretov and folded inwardly .to form bottom-.flanges provided withapertures, and an inner rectangular rigid frame having-side-stripsadapted e form longitudinal flanges, a slide link com-V prising a flat top slidable against the topportion of the main link and formed with an end-strip received between the top-portion and longitudinal flanges of the outer link and a hook at its opposite end, and a separate latch for the slide link having an end-strip received between the top-portion and longitudinal flanges on the outer link and formed with a tongue extending from said end-strip flush with the edges of said flanges with its end positioned opposite the beak of the hook on the slide link and provided with projections on its sides engaging under the edges of the longitudinal flanges on the main link to support it in position to close the hook while radapting it to be manually rocked away therefrom.

3. In an expansible band, chain or linkage,

the combination of an outer link having a krelatively flat top-portion, sides bent at rightangles thereto and folded inwardly to form bottom-flanges provided with apertures, a substantially rectangular rigid skeleton frame constructed from a single strip of sheet-metal and inserted between the sides of the outer link with its end-bars .extending across the open ends thereof and having projections engaging the apertures in the outer link to rigidly secure the frame and-outer link together, a slide link adapted to slide between the sides of the outer link and having means at one of its ends for connecting 1t with the end-bar on the inner frame of the next adjacent main link of a series, and a spring enclosed within the slide` link bearing againstthe end-bar on the main link to maintain saidv links in teleseoped relation.

4. In an expansible band, chain or linkage, the combination of an outer link having a top-portion with sides bentat right-angles thereto and folded inwardly to form bottomflanges and provided with cross-bars at its .open ends, a slide link having a flat portion formed with a hook at one end and a crossstrip bent at right-angles at the opposite end,

a. latch member having a tongue adapted to abut the hook on the slide link und a right-- angled'lange 'at the opposite enel abutting the. cross-strip on the slide and ears projectingfrom the' sides of the tongue to engage i under the bott0m-anges on the main link,

and aspring. enclosed Within the slide linkk engaging atmone end with the ange on the tongue to maintain the latter in abutting relation With the crossestrip on the slide link and bearing against the crossLban on the main link `to maintain the Slide link telescopecl Within the main link.

In testimony'whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN 

